Sinfonia’s Annual Crescendo! Event

Sinfonia Gulf Coast, our region’s only fully professional symphony orchestra, is pleased to announce more delicious details for its annual fundraiser, Crescendo!: A Cultural and Culinary Event Extravaganza, slated for March 1–3, 2024.

The annual “fun-raiser” weekend culminates with Crescendo! main event on Sunday, March 3 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach.

Guest Artist

Isaac Mizrahi. Photo courtesy of Gregg Richards

A highlight of Crescendo! main event is the live performance showcase by the special guest artist. This year, Sinfonia Gulf Coast has invited Isaac Mizrahi to bring his acclaimed cabaret-style show from New York’s Café Carlyle to Crescendo! 2024.

For more than 30 years, Mizrahi has worked extensively in the entertainment industry as a performer, host, writer, designer, and producer. He was most recently seen as Amos Hart in the Broadway production of Chicago and is a staple headliner at Café Carlyle in New York City. Many will recognize him as the adorable judge with impeccable taste on Project Runway: All-Stars season seven.

According to the reviews, Mizrahi is not to be missed. The New York Times wrote, “He qualifies as a founding father of a genre that fuses performance art, music and stand-up comedy.” TheatreMania agreed, saying, “Mizrahi is the real deal when it comes to cabaret: He’s charming, he sounds great, and he is seriously funny.”

Isaac Mizrahi. Photo courtesy of David Andrako

This year’s theme is Crescendo!: The New Noir. The Coastal and Emerald Ballrooms in the Hilton Sandestin will be transformed into a glamorous noir lair of elegance. Guests are invited to channel their individualized rendition of black, be it classic, vintage, elegant, edgy or embellished with a pop of color.

“Crescendo! is the epitome of what we call ‘fun-phonia.’ We’re thrilled to amplify this year’s event with the entertaining shenanigans of the one and only Isaac Mizrahi. We welcome everyone who loves a good time to gather with their friends, family and colleagues at Crescendo! to raise funds and awareness for our music education and community engagement outreach programs throughout Northwest Florida,” says Sinfonia music and artistic director Demetrius Fuller.

Vintner Dinner Pairings

On Friday, March 1 at 6 p.m., Crescendo! weekend will begin with a series of carefully curated vintner dinners hosted in elegant homes, hotels, and halls throughout the Emerald Coast. Each dinner pairs the talents of local and national “celebrity” chefs with some of the country’s most acclaimed vineyards for a delicious evening of food and wine. As the vintner dinner lineup indicates, several proprietors and winemakers will attend to introduce and personally pour their wines.

Photo courtesy of Pure 7 Studios

This year’s pairings include Michelin-star chef Edgar “Teddy” Panchernikov (Caviar Russe) paired with Karen and Stu Lerner, proprietors of The Lerner Project, and hosted by Yvonne and Greg Lala at Hotel Effie; Chef Sean Massey (Darioush) paired with Darioush, represented by Jodie MacKenzie, and hosted by Mary Higdon with Aleta & David Jefferson in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort; Chef Nikhil Abuvala (Roux 30A) paired with VGS Chateau Potelle, represented by Kathi Cook, and hosted by Marisol and Tony Gullo and Stephanie and George Brannon Jr. at Churchill Oaks; Chef Tyler Simmons (Henderson Beach Resort) paired with Baldacci Wines, represented by winemaker/proprietor Michael Baldacci, and hosted by Elizabeth and Jared Boswell at the Henderson; Chef Fleetwood Covington (Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood) paired with ADAMVS, represented by Jonathan Robinson, and hosted by Yana Morgan and Justin Shane at Seagar’s; Chef Alan Baltazar (Market 30A) paired with Thomspon31-Fifty, represented by proprietors Mike and Valerie Thompson and Post Parade wines represented by Georgia Taylor, and hosted by Velia Lala and Pamela Wellborn at Kelly Plantation; Chef Dan Vargo (Fine Coastal Cuisine) paired with Tournesol Estate Winery, represented by proprietors Anne and Bob Arns, and hosted by Elizabeth and Bill Campbell and Carolyn and Todd Brigman at their home in Choctaw Beach; and Chef Jack McGuckin (Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits) paired with Charles Krug Winery, represented by Charles Krug and Aloft, represented by Janice Mondavi, and hosted by Leslie Levy at Bijoux.

“We’re elated to present a stellar roster of vintner dinners featuring carefully curated menus prepared by award-winning chefs, highly-rated fine wines — many personally poured by the winemakers and proprietors themselves — presented by our generous hosts in beautiful homes and venues along the Emerald Coast to raise funds and awareness for our music education and community engagement outreach programs throughout Northwest Florida,” says Sinfonia music and artistic director Demetrius Fuller.

Photo courtesy of Jim Clark

Vintner dinner tickets are $500 per person, including food, wine and gratuities.

Tickets for all Crescendo! 2024 events are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sinfoniagulfcoast.org or call (850) 460-8800.

Proceeds from Crescendo! 2024 will benefit Sinfonia and its music education community engagement outreach programs, which include musicians/guest artists in schools, free orchestra concerts, bus transportation for students, the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra program, the Arts in Medicine initiative with Sacred Heart Hospital, and Link Up concerts for third through fifth graders in partnership with Carnegie Hall and more.

ABOUT SINFONIA GULF COAST

Sinfonia Gulf Coast was founded in 2005 on Florida’s Northwest Gulf Coast with the mission of redefining the symphony experience. Under the guidance of founder and music director Demetrius Fuller and a dedicated board of directors, the nonprofit orchestra is in its 18th season of innovative musical programming designed to entertain, educate and inspire the community. Since its founding, Sinfonia Gulf Coast has presented more than 700 concerts and events that have reached over 500,000 patrons, has collaborated with numerous nonprofits and businesses throughout the community, and has reached more than 200,000 children through its Sinfonia Guest Artists in the Schools program/music education outreach initiatives.